I'm dead serious. Anyone who thinks now is the time with the most free cashflow and wants to use up a large chunk of that on a car is an idiot.

It's not about debt, you really should plan on never being in debt (a mortgage on a house, unless in negative equity, is not debt, but that's a different story) - why does anyone need debt other than to pay for education (good debt) or to start a business (can be good debt) if u use debt to buy a car (unless through a company via a lease), you're living above ur means and need to grow up

2 lazy to read



but even if you want to finance it why wouldn't you just lease it first? interest rates are the same or even lower on a lease these days and you pay less monthly

and at the end of your lease you could buy it out/finance it

I get what you're trying to get at. Not getting into debt is ideal but I think there are many cases where buying a car via lease/finance is fine and not living above your means. I bought my first car straight up because I was living with my family and I can save very easily. I bought a condo a few years ago and I save less now. You can dress it up however you want (good-debt, non-negative equity debt) but it's still debt. You're still below 0. My next car will likely be financed. I don't think I 'need to grow up' when I buy my next car. If you can budget intelligently and take advantage of low finance rates... debt with a car or something 'fun' like a boat isn't a bad thing. Not ideal but not a bad thing if you can budget properly.

OP open up a spreadsheet. Put each car on a different row. For lease, calculate all your costs (down payment, monthly cost, ect). See how much it all costs after 3-4 years. Do the same thing with finance rates and you can grab an estimate of how much your car is worth at the end via blackbook (google it). Use that to figure out which scenario is better for you after your term.

Aside from the lease vs. buy/finance discussion, is a 128 really that much of an upgrade over a TSX? The 128 will have a smaller trunk, smaller rear seats, 2 less doors, and drinks more gas. If you take the jump to a 135, then the whole experience is different. If you buy a used TSX, drive and enjoy it. If you happen to need to free up some money in the next 1-2 years for whatever, you can sell it back out at any time with minimal losses and just rebuy a cheap DD.

I see where you are coming from financially, living comfortably with some extra disposable income available for the next couple of years. But best to test drive some cars to before you can decide on what you want to afford. If you lease, you are tied in for 3-4 years and at your age a lot can change pretty quickly in that time period so you lose quite a bit of flexibility by being tied down to your car (instead of gf/wife, kids, home). Owning/leasing a 128 isn't exactly a once in a lifetime decision, your future should be able to afford you this opportunity without having to make too many sacrifices down the road.

RWD.

Don't think anyone pays MSRP either...
I got $7300 off MSRP when i brought my 2009 335i...
(and a base 128i is only 36K, and is pretty well equipped as is. You get the audio, premium and msport package, but none of them are that important if you are on a budget.)

I think people should live within their mean and not over spend, but I also think people who pinch every penny and doesn't enjoy life because of that is more pathetic..
life is short and money means nothing when you go to your grave...I'd say pick whatever makes you happy.

btw...i think the 1 series looks like an ugly midget car..lol get the tsx and save yourself some money too:lol

^ rarely can you deal the price for lease, forgot to add that was lease rate.

I'm sorry, but have you ever leased a vehicle? They are still flexible with the price regardless if you pay cash or not, so long as the vehicle you are buying is not a hit like the Prius.

I had asked prices for a 2012 Mustang GT, 2012 STI, 2012 Evo, 2012 Camaro SS, and they were all willing to do invoice + 4% (though not 3%) even when I mentioned I would like to lease. They make the majority of your money through the fee's and future services, not from the MSRP of the vehicle.

I believe you have it wrong there bud, any european car is hard to maintain, that being said they are a blast to drive and own.

Also I have owned a 95 prelude sr-v and a 2007 TSX and let me tell you the insurance is pretty much the same. In general 4 doors are cheaper to insure but there are factors such as most stolen car and mostly owned by young ppl. They also rate it by safety, the more airbags or safety features your car has, the less the insurance will be.

Also I see no point of modding a leased car unless you plan to own, modding a lease car is just a bottomless money pit.

Yup, right now leasing rates are really attractive.

Fixed.